McEwens Beach, Queensland

McEwens Beach is a coastal town and rural locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of McEwens Beach had a population of 159 people.[1]

McEwens Beach
Queensland
McEwens Beach is located in Queensland
McEwens Beach
McEwens Beach
Coordinates21°15′06″S 149°12′19″E / 21.2516°S 149.2052°E / -21.2516; 149.2052 (McEwens Beach (town centre))
Population159 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density11.20/km2 (29.00/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4740
Area14.2 km2 (5.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC 10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Mirani
Federal division(s)Dawson
Localities around McEwens Beach:
Bakers Creek Paget Coral Sea
Rosella McEwens Beach Coral Sea
Chelona Dunnrock Dunnrock

Geography

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The locality is bounded to the east by the Coral Sea with a long sandy beach along the length of the coast, also known as McEwens Beach (21°15′09″S 149°12′23″E / 21.2526°S 149.2064°E / -21.2526; 149.2064 (McEwens Beach (beach))).[4] The town of McEwens Beach is on the south-eastern coast facing Sandringham Bay (21°14′59″S 149°13′19″E / 21.2497°S 149.2219°E / -21.2497; 149.2219 (Sandringham Bay)).[5][6]

The north-east of the locality is Bakers Creek Conservation Park (21°14′25″S 149°12′18″E / 21.2403°S 149.2049°E / -21.2403; 149.2049 (Bakers Creek Conservation Park)). The aim of the park is to protect the shore birds. This includes both the Australian beach stone-curlew which is deemed as vulnerable as well as migratory shore birds.[7]

The town is a small residential area along the south-east coast, accessible via McEwens Beach Road. The area surrounding the town is undeveloped, being mostly marshland. The west of the locality is used to grow sugarcane while the middle of the locality is used for grazing on native vegetation.[8]

There is a cane tramway in the west of the locality to transport the harvested sugarcane to the local sugar mill for processing.[8]

History

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From the 1920s the location was known as McEwen’s Beach,[9] after Robert Field McEwen who had purchased land in the area.[10]

The area was named as a township by the Queensland Place Names Board on 11 December 1980.[2]

Demographics

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In the 2016 census, the locality of McEwens Beach had a population of 202 people.[11]

In the 2021 census, the locality of McEwens Beach had a population of 159 people.[1]

Amenities

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The Mackay Regional Council operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule at Aura Street.[12][13]

McEwens Beach Reserve is a foreshore park to the south of the town (21°15′14″S 149°12′19″E / 21.2539°S 149.2054°E / -21.2539; 149.2054 (McEwens Beach Reserve)).[14] There is an foreshore esplanade at the north of the town (21°14′57″S 149°12′26″E / 21.2491°S 149.2073°E / -21.2491; 149.2073 (Esplanade foreshore)).[14]

Education

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There are no schools in McEwens Beach. The nearest primary school is Chelona State School in neighbouring Chelona to the south-west. The nearest secondary school is Mackay State High School in Mackay to the north.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "McEwens Beach (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ a b "McEwens Beach – town in Mackay Region (entry 48149)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. ^ "McEwens Beach – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46804)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Mountain ranges beaches and sea passages - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Bays - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Sandringham Bay – bay in the Mackay Region (entry 29620)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Bakers Creek Conservation Park: Management Plan" (PDF). Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Queensland Government. 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Anglers' Association". Daily Mercury. Vol. 55, no. 205. Queensland, Australia. 31 August 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 4 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "MR. Robert Field M'Ewen". Daily Mercury. Vol. 76, no. 216. Queensland, Australia. 10 September 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "McEwens Beach (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  12. ^ "Libraries: Contact/Opening Hours". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Mobile Library Timetable 2017" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.